Houston Astros (63-62) vs New York Yankees (53-71)
August 19-21, 2014
Yankee Stadium - New York, NY
Probable Starters
Game One - Tuesday 7:05 PM
Jarred Cosart (8-7, 4.28) vs Hiroki Kuroda (8-9, 4.19)
Game Two - Wednesday 7:05 PM
Brett Oberholtzer (8-10, 4.83) vs Masahiro Tanaka (6-10, 3.68)
Game Three - Thursday 1:05 PM
Scott Feldman (8-6, 4.41) vs Michael Pineda (6-8, 3.63)
Only saw a little bit of one of your games last night but it looks like you are getting pretty streaky pitching again. At this point is there anyone on the farm you want to try out for next year?Originally Posted by steelerfan
Edit: I notice that confidence is huge in this game... when you enter a cold streak you become ICE COLD. This was the case for me last night versus Tulsa for two straight games.
Edit: I notice that confidence is huge in this game... when you enter a cold streak you become ICE COLD. This was the case for me last night versus Tulsa for two straight games.
I only have about 10 games left until I get to September.
I'm not sure if you are familiar with baseball rules but, in September MLB rosters expand from 25 to 40. That allows you to call up everyone on your 40-man roster.
I'm going to wait until then so I don't burn an option sending a guy down to get a pitcher 1 or 2 starts.
The Astros lost their fourth consecutive series, dropping 2 of 3 at Yankee Stadium.
HOU 4-12-0 F/11
NYY 5-11-1
HOU 8-14-0
NYY 12-14-0
HOU 8-10-0
NYY 0-1-1
Despite the results, Houston (64-64) hit .303 with 5 doubles and ten homers in the series.
Rookie sensation George Springer went 8-12 with 4 doubles, 4 homers and 8 RBI. Springer hit 2 long balls in both games 2 and 3.
Brett Oberholtzer (8-10, 5.16) had another rough start in game 2, allowing 6 hits and 7 earned runs in just 3 innings of work. Following the disastrous outing, Manager Bo Porter announced that Brad Peacock (4-5, 3.40) would move into the starting rotation and Oberholtzer would move to a long relief role, "for the time being". Peacock has made 3 spot starts for the Astros this season.
In the series finale, only a third inning walk and a fourth inning leadoff double by Ichiro Suzuki separated Scott Feldman from perfection. Feldman (9-6, 4.13) struck out 5 and pitched a brilliant 1-hit, complete game shutout in Houston's 8-0 victory. Feldman retired the final 18 batters he faced in order.
The Astros will wrap up their road trip in Cleveland this weekend. After the Indians (68-59), Houston will play 18 consecutive games against division opponents.
AL West Standings (through August 21):
Rangers 70-56 --
Mariners 69-57 1.0
Angels 67-60 3.5
Athletics 64-62 6.0
Astros 64-64 7.0
Houston Astros 64-64) at Cleveland Indians (68-59)
August 22-24, 2014
Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH
Probable Starters:
Game One - Friday 7:05 PM
Alex White (3-6, 3.69) vs Josh Tomlin (10-6, 4.11)
Game Two - Saturday 7:05 PM
Jerome Williams (12-5, 2.96) vs Wandy Rodriguez (7-8, 4.44)
Game Three - Sunday 1:05 PM
Jarred Cosart (8-7, 4.26) vs Carlos Carrasco (7-4, 2.97)
Tough loss to the Indians tonight (and I know you hate losing to anything from Cleveland).
Lol. The Indians are the one I can stomach. When I lived there in the mid to late 80s I rooted for them casually. Afterall, the Astros were in the National League and there was no Interleague play so they weren't in direct competition.
I made the decision to move from Dynamic Difficulty to Veteran batting and All-Star pitching, beginning with that game. I've come to believe that DD will keep you playing .500 baseball over the long run.
I didn't conclude this on my 64-64 record alone. I've read others saying the same and my friend is like 2 games over after about 100 games with the Royals.
That said, I will be watching my statistics VERY CLOSELY to see if those skill levels are appropriate for me.
Houston (65-66) lost a 5th consecutive series, losing 2 of 3 on the shores of Lake Smegma Erie.
HOU 4-12-1 F/12
CLE 5-10-2
HOU 3-13-1 F/10
CLE 2-7-2
HOU 0-6-0
CLE 4-9-0
Rookie outfielder Domingo Santana suffered a broken arm diving into first base on a pickoff attempt in the second inning. The injury likely ends Santana's season.
Santana played in 41 games for Houston after being called up to replace an injured LJ Hoes (who was called up to replace an injured Dexter Fowler). However, Santana was largely used as a defensive replacement and had only 55 at-bats.
He made the most of his opportunities though, hitting .400 with 5 homers and 17 RBI. Domingo scored 12 runs, had 3 doubles, a triple and was successful on 2 of 3 steal attempts.
Santana also showed patience at the plate, drawing 6 walks and posting a .444 OBP to go with a .764 SLG% and a 1.208 OPS. In 148.2 innings in the field, he committed just one error for a .970 Fielding %.
Hoes, who had been tearing up the AAA circuit since his return, has been recalled by the Astros to replace Santana.
The Astros will play their next 9 at Minute Maid Park starting with 3 against Oakland, then 4 with Texas and 2 with the Angels.
How many games are you back now? (division and wildcard?). That sucks about Santana. The times I have watched he has had some decent play. These next nine games are pretty crucial. Good luck!
Houston Astros (65-66) vs Oakland Athletics (66-63)
August 25-27, 2014
Minute Maid Park - Houston, TX
Probable Starters:
Game One - Monday 7:10 PM
Brad Peacock (4-5, 3.40) vs Josh Lindblom (5-4, 4.32)
Game Two - Tuesday 7:10 PM
Scott Feldman (9-6, 4.13) vs Sonny Gray (9-8, 3.02)
Game Three - Wednesday 7:10 PM
Alex White (3-6, 3.63) vs AJ Griffin (7-6, 3.69)
The Astros are 9-4 against Oakland in 2014. The clubs will meet again (September 5-7) in Oakland.
After winning the opener against the A's, I'm 7 back in the West (in last place) and 5 back in the Wildcard race. Not likely, not looking to make the playoffs yet.
The miserable month of August continued for Houston (66-68) as the Astros dropped 2 of 3 to Oakland, marking the sixth consecutive series that the club has lost. Houston is just 6-14 over their last 20 games since starting August 5 straight wins (7 dating back to the end of July).
OAK 4-7-0
HOU 7-11-0
OAK 2-9-1 F/10
HOU 1-2-1
OAK 5-11-0
HOU 1-6-0
Houston was an embarrassing 19 for 101 (.188) at the plate in the series.
The Astros will close the month with 4 games against the Texas Rangers. Houston is 7-6 against Texas this year and will play 3 more in Arlington (September 22-24) before the end of the season.
AL West Standings through August 27:
Mariners 73-59 --
Rangers 71-61 2.0
Angels 70-63 3.5
Athletics 68-64 5.0
Astros 66-68 8.0
Houston Astros (66-68) vs Texas Rangers (71-61)
August 28-31, 2014
Minute Maid Park - Houston, TX
Probable Starters:
Game One - Thursday 7:10 PM
Jerome Williams (12-5, 2.86) vs Derek Holland (1-5, 5.44)
Game Two - Friday 7:10 PM
Jarred Cosart (8-8, 4.27) vs Martin Perez (11-8, 3.69)
Game Three - Saturday 6:10 PM
Brad Peacock (5-5, 3.38) vs Robbie Ross (11-9, 3.28)
Game Four - Sunday 1:10 PM
Scott Feldman (9-6, 4.01) vs Yu Darvish (13-5, 2.72)
The Astros limped into the final month of the 2014 season by losing a seventh consecutive series, dropping 3 of 4 to Texas.
TEX 7-11-3
HOU 4-5-0
TEX 0-7-0
HOU 2-6-0
TEX 7-11-2 F/11
HOU 5-13-1
TEX 5-9-0
HOU 0-4-2
The Astros record against the Rangers now stands at 8-9 this season.
Houston will host the Angels for 2 games, sandwiched been a pair of off days. Houston is 5-9 against their LA division rivals this year.
Standings through September 1, 2014:
AL East
Toronto 74-62 --
Boston 65-72 9.5
Tampa Bay 62-76 13.0
NY Yankees 61-75 13.0
Baltimore 53-84 21.5
AL Central
Kansas City 81-56 --
Cleveland 75-62 6.0
Detroit 70-67 11.0
Minnesota 65-72 16.0
ChiSox 59-78 22.0
AL West
Seattle 75-61 --
Texas 75-62 0.5
LA Angels71-66 4.5
Oakland 71-66 4.5
Houston 67-71 9.0
NL East
Washington 79-58 --
Atlanta 79-59 0.5
Miami 67-70 12.0
Philadelphia 56-81 23.0
NY Mets 52-86 27.5
NL Central
Milwaukee 84-53 --
St. Louis 76-61 8.0
Cincinnati 67-70 17.0
Pittsburgh 51-86 33.0
ChiCubs 51-87 33.5
NL West
LA Dodgers 87-51 --
San Diego 74-62 12.0
San Francisco 73-65 14.0
Colorado 69-69 18.0
Arizona 68-69 18.5
As the season has rolled into September and Major League rosters have expanded to 40, here are the players who will be join Houston for the stretch run:
SP Luis Cruz
SP Paul Clemens*
SP Dallas Keuchel
SP Lucas Harrell
RP Josh Fields*
RP Matt Albers*
RP Anthony Bass
RP Jose Cisnero
C Max Stassi
SP Rudy Owens
SP Collin McHugh
SP Vincent Velasquez
SP David Martinez
SP Asher Wojciechski**
2B Jose Altuve***
* spent part of 2014 with the Astros
** contract purchased from AAA Oklahoma City
*** activated from Disabled List
Houston Astros (67-71) vs Los Angeles Angels (71-66)
September 2-3, 2014
Minute Maid Park - Houston, TX
Probable Starters:
Game One - Tuesday 7:10 PM
Alex White (3-7, 3.82) vs Hector Santiago (10-10, 4.88)
Game Two - Wednesday 7:10 PM
Jerome Williams (12-6, 2.99) vs Garrett Richards (8-10, 4.86)
Houston avoided losing an 8th consecutive series by splitting a pair with the Angels. The Astros have, however, gone 8 series without a series win.
LAA 7-12-3
HOU 4-5-1
LAA 4-11-0
HOU 9-12-1
Four Houston pitchers made their season or Major League debuts during the 2-game set:
28-year-old righty Lucas Harrell pitched 3 perfect innings, striking out one, in his 2014 MLB debut.
Luis Cruz, 23, allowed 2 runs, 4 hits (including a homer) and struck out 2 in 2 innings in his MLB debut.
Anthony Bass, 26, also made his season debut - surrendering a run on 2 hits in 1.1 innings.
Rudy Owens, 26, pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in 2 outings, his first in the Bigs, surrendering a hit and walking 2 while striking out 1.
Last edited by steelerfan; 07-27-2014 at 08:29 AM.
The Astros will hit the road again with three 3-game series against division foes (Oakland, Seattle and LA) before coming back to Minute Maid for their final 7 home games of 2014.
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